TAMAN NASIONAL
BUNAKEN
Geographical location : 124°39-124°35 E ; 1°35- 1°49 N
Aministrative location : Provinsi Sulawesi Utara (Kabupaten Minahasa
and Manado)
Area : 89.065 hectares
Temperature : 26° - 31° C
Rainfall : 2.500 – 3.500 mm/year (average)
Altitude : 0 - 800 masl
Salinity : 33 - 35 0/00
Weather clearness : 10 - 30 m
Low-tide : 2.5 m (average)
Rainy season : November - February
Dry season : March - October
Best time to visit : May - August
(Bunaken National Park) is very representative of Indonesian tropical
water ecosystems, consisting of seagrass plain, coral reef, and land/coastal
ecosystems.
The northern part of the Park area covers the islands of Bunaken,
Manado Tua, Montehage, Siladen, Nain and Nain Kecil, and part of the Tanjung
Pisok coastal area. The southern part of the Park covers part of the Tanjung
Kelapa coast.
The islands are rich in species of palm, sagu, woka, silar and
coconut. Among the animal species that live on the land and the beaches are
black-crested macaques (Macaca nigra nigra), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis
russa), and bear-cuscus (Ailurops ursinus ursinus).
The mangrove forest of the Park contains, among others, Rhizophora
sp., Sonneratia sp., Lumnitzera sp., and Bruguiera sp. This forest is also rich
in species of crab, lobster, mollusc, and sea birds such as gulls, herons, sea
doves, and storks.
This park offshore area is Home of seaweed species include Caulerpa
sp., Halimeda spp., and Padina spp., while the dominant seagrasses, in
particular in the islands of Montehage and Nain, are Thalassia hemprichii,
Enhallus acoroides, and Thalassodendron ciliatum. Thirteen species of coral
have been recorded in the waters of the Park, dominated by fringing reef coral
and barrier reef coral. An interesting feature is the 25-50 meters vertical
coral wall which is inhabited by 13 coral genus.
And also home of 91 species of fish live in the waters of the Park,
among them being the emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator), almaco jack
(Seriola rivoliana), spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), yellowstripe snapper
(Lutjanus kasmira), four saddle rock cod (Ephinephelus spilotoceps), pinkish
basslet (Pseudanthias hypselosoma), two-lined monocle bream (Scolopsis
bilineatus), etc.; and species of mollusc such as the great clam (Tridacna
gigas), horned helmet (Cassis cornuta), pearly-chambered nautili (Nautilus
pompillius), and ascidians.
There are five islands in the Park where visitors can enjoy diving,
snorkelling and marine tours.Cultural attractions outside the Park include the
Anniversary of Manado in July and Menulude in January, in Manado.